Show-case.



C. B. DODSON.

SHOW CASE. APPLICATION FILED suLv 21.1915.

. 1,245,203. PatentedNovo 6,1917.

i 4 J 11 3 j WITNESSES:

.Aftomey MGHARLES B. DODSON, or'ariinns, 'rENNEssEE.

SHOW-CASE Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N Q'G, 1917.

Application filed July 21, 1915. Seria1 No.41,154.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHAR S 13. DODSON, citizen of the United States, residing at Athens, in the county of McMinn and State of Tennessee, have invented a-new and useful Show-Case, of which the following is a specification. a o i 4 V This inventionrelates to an improvement in show cases, and the object-iskto provide a simple, inexpensive and convenient device for displaying the contents of boxes containing crackers, dried fruit, and the like, in'the original package, and protecting the con.- tents of the box from dust, handling and theft. 1

The show case is provided with an open end and a transparent top so that a box and its contents may be inserted within the show case through the open end, and the contents of the box displayed and observed through the transparent top. .After the box has been inserted in the showcase, the end of the box will form a closure for theshow case, and a knob is provided for withdrawing the box when it is desired to remove crackers, fruit or other articles from thebox. Of course when the box becomes empty it may be removed and a new box substituted therefor.

It is the general practice in displaying dried fruit, crackers and the like, to remove the cover from the shipping box and allow the contents thereof to remain exposed to insects, dust, handling by unauthorized persons, and theft. lVith the present invention the entire shipping box can be inserted in the show case, after the cover has been removed, thereby protecting the contents of the box and keeping the same in a sanitary condition.

It has been found objectionable to remove crackers, dried fruit and the like from boxes in which they are shipped because the crackers are liable to breakage in transferring them from the shipping box to the drawer or display box, and the fruit when transferred from the shipping box to a drawer or display box is loosened from its compact condition, causing it to be exposed to the air, and thereby losing its freshness and taste.

The invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the following claim; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, material and minor details of constructionwithin the scopeof the appended claim, maybe made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in end elevati show case'and box. a a Fig.. 2 is a longitudinal-vertical sectional new 7 y Fig. 3 isa transverse sectionalview.

view through the shipping box and show case. I 1

Arepresents the show case and 1 l are bottom side rails and. 2 is a bottom .end rail.

on ofthe Fig. 4 is a detailed horizontal sectional The bottom end rails 2 andsiderails ljare connected together, and supported between and connected to the side rails is a base or bottom 3, the inner terminal of the bottom being connected to. the end rail 2. Legs 4C are connected to the bottom rails forsup- V.

porting the bottom? .Mounted upon, and

connected to the bottom 3, are sides 5, andinterposed between the sides at their inner ends is an end wall6. f :1

-The top frameconsists of side and end strips 7 and 8,. respectively, which are suit} ably. connected together, and the lower inner edges of the strips and .,8 are inortised, as at 9, for". receivingtheedges of the plate of glass or transparent panel 10; The

glass :10 -and the top. frame are supported uponthe sides 5 and end wall 6.

The bottom 3 is preferably provided with two longitudinal slots 11 in which a plurality of rollers 12 are received, the rollers being supported by means of pins or shafts 13 which extend transversely through the bottom 3 and through the rollers. The rollers 12 are loosely mounted upon the shafts or pins 13 and project above the upper surface of the bottom 3.

Received within the show case, and between the bottom 3, panel 10, sides 5 and end wall 6 is a box 1%, the box, after the cover has been removed therefrom, being supported and guided into the case by the rollers 12. The box 14 is preferably a shipping box in which the contents are in the condition in which they are received from the shipper. The opening formed between the sides 5, bottom 3 and top is suflicient to receive the shipping box and maintain it in a sanitary condition, an end of the box i;

that the top frame is of greater length than the sides 5, and the bottom 3, and that the top is offset forwardly from the bottom so as to overhang the open end of the case, and provide a shield which projects outwardly over the end of the original box which forms a closure for the open end of the case. This shield, which comprises the outer end strip 7, and the outer parts of side strips 8 and panel 10, wards ofi" dust, moisture, and-other accumulations which would injure the goods, and also prevents access to the goods without drawing the box out of the case to a. considerable extent. 7

A- detachable knob or handle is applied to an end of the box 14 so that the box can be inserted in or withdrawn from the case. The rollers 12, which are located in the bottom 3 of the case may be made of wood or steel and they facilitate the movement of the box in and out of the case. It is intended that the cases shall be constructed of a size to receive. the ordinary size cracker box, and, say, 'a 50 lbabox of dried fruit.

Of course, when more than one section is necessary the case can be made'in a number of sections and each section containing two or more compartments. Compulsory regulations have been made in some of the States requiring a merchant to keep the contents of a box or show case either closed or covered so that the contents of the box will be free from dust, andkept in a sanitary condition. The object of this invention is to comply with this requirement and, at the same time, provide a show case which can be manufactured ata small cost for supporting and displaying boxes containing goods which cannot be removed and transferred to other containers without breaking, crushing or damaging.

When the contents of the shipping box it has been disposed of, the box is removed from the show case and a full box is substituted therefor, the knob 15 being removed from the empty box and applied tothenew or full box.

What is claimed is, A show case comprising a body open at one end and having a horizontal bottom, op-

posed vertical sides, onevertical end wall,

and a horizontal top, a shipping-box open at the top for inspection, the body being adapted to receive through the open end thereof said shipping box and to fit thereabout tocompletely inclose the same, one

permit inspection of the goods without uncovering the same and a detachable handle fastened to said shipping box. e I r In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

, p p CHARLES B. DODSON.

1 V Witnesses: FRANK DoDsoN,

H. S. MoonY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five-cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. v a V 

